Dr. Kakai Miriam is a Librarian known for spearheading digital librarianship at Makerere University Library. With a career spanning over two decades, Miriam has played a central role in making Makerere University’s research output visible on the Internet. Over the years, Miriam has advocated for the digitization of information materials, institutional repository development, improving the management of serials and microfilm collections of Makerere University Library. Her vision has been to modernize library services and make academic resources more accessible.

Born and raised in Mbale City, Miriam’s study programs have all been done at Makerere University, starting with a Bachelor in Library and Information Sciences, a Master’s in Information Science, a PhD in Information Science, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Miriam started her career as an information officer, working with Uganda Business Directory in Kampala. She then went on to be a school librarian and teacher of mathematics at Bukulula Girls SSS in Masaka. She later joined Makerere University Library Services and has been here since 1998, working in different capacities.

Miriam’s career at Makerere University Library started as a Librarian-II. Over time, Miriam climbed the ranks to Librarian-I, demonstrating unparalleled dedication to improving the library’s services and enhancing access to academic materials. She worked in the Africana Special Collections Section, was Head of the Microfilming Section, the Periodicals Section and now the Digitisation Section which has marked a pivotal chapter in her professional journey.

While heading the Periodicals Section, Miriam understood the critical importance of journals, magazines, and periodicals in scholarly communication. She led efforts to modernize the electronic resources management system using ELIN (Electronic Library Information Navigator). By improving cataloging and creating a streamlined method for accessing electronic resources, Miriam helped bridge the gap between traditional library services and the evolving digital landscape. Leading the information literacy sessions at Makerere University Library enhanced access to e-journals and periodicals, which meant that both students and lecturers could access important research publications in a more efficient and timely manner.

The most transformative aspect of Miriam’s career has been her role in digitizing the Library’s information materials. She was initiated into the digitisation of library information materials in collaborative ventures with partner institutions in the United States of America (Tufts University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville). This led to being assigned the responsibility of piloting the Uganda Science Digital Library (USDL) project, which was done in collaboration with the University of Bergen Library in Norway. This later became the first institutional repository of Makerere University. Recognizing the growing need for efficient management and preservation of the university’s academic outputs, Miriam spearheaded the development of the institutional repository designed to house scholarly articles, theses, dissertations, and other intellectual property created by the university’s staff and students. By introducing this initiative, Miriam ensured that Makerere University’s research was widely accessible, advancing the university’s mission of contributing to global knowledge. Along the way, Miriam has mentored both students and staff and continues to work passionately at Makerere University, ensuring that the institution remains at the forefront of academic research and digital information access.